NASA About to Begin Lunar Space Station Project

[DooKey]

NASA's lunar "Gateway" project begins early next year (Warning auto play video) when they will award a contract to build power and propulsion elements for the orbital platform. This platform will orbit the moon and will be one of the first steps to putting man on the moon in permanent bases. The components will begin launching towards the moon in 2022 and the platform should be complete and orbiting by 2025. This is definitely one giant leap for mankind.

The Gateway would also further NASA’s goal of another human landing on the moon and will help determine whether water near the surface could be used to manufacture propellant for deep-space missions. The moon’s gravity could also help a spacecraft reduce the blistering speeds used for six-month voyages back-and-forth to Mars, thus facilitating re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere.

 

[leathco016]

It's a good plan, but look at the dates. Like clockwork, every new president changes the NASA mission. We went from a Mars target to a Luna target, wasting a large chunk of cash used for the previous target. This has been going on for the past 3 decades and is why NASA hasn't made any major exploration missions in a while, focusing on probes and orbitals instead. With Trump leaving office in 2020 or 2024, I have a bad feeling there will be a new target with the new President.

 

[sirmonkey1985]

It's a good plan, but look at the dates. Like clockwork, every new president changes the NASA mission. We went from a Mars target to a Luna target, wasting a large chunk of cash used for the previous target. This has been going on for the past 3 decades and is why NASA hasn't made any major exploration missions in a while, focusing on probes and orbitals instead. With Trump leaving office in 2020 or 2024, I have a bad feeling there will be a new target with the new President.

worries me as well but luckily most of this was planned out already before it was put on ice.. i think nasa just needs to put their foot down and quit letting political agenda's decide the route they should be going.

 

[alxlwson]

I think the moon is a more realistic project. There is actually a chance at rescue if something happens on the moon. You're fucked on Mars. Get the bugs worked out there, then work on Mars.

 

[DeathFromBelow]

It's a good plan, but look at the dates. Like clockwork, every new president changes the NASA mission. We went from a Mars target to a Luna target, wasting a large chunk of cash used for the previous target.

Placing a station in cislunar space or capturing a tiny asteroid and placing it in Lunar orbit has been in the works for a long time as a stepping stone to Mars missions in the 2030s.

The real problem is that the rockets NASA needs for any new missions have been sitting in development hell for years now. With SpaceX flying reusable heavy lifters and development of even larger reusable rockets in progress it may not be worthwhile for NASA to keep developing their own disposable launchers.

 

[kju1]

Funding will be cut next year.

 

[griff30]

NASA may not make the mark but free market capitalism will.
Once entrepreneurs like Elon Musk set their sights on mining H3 and realizing unfathomable riches, there will be a constant flow of personnel to the Moon and a permanent colony.
From that point on, Mars would be a walk in the park.

 

[katanaD]

so they are planning on using the SLS rocket..

HAHAHAHAHA

 

[Mega6]

and next election, new president, new goals and we will be nowhere again because of the change in direction. NASA is fkd.

 

[jedijeb13]

NASA may not make the mark but free market capitalism will.
Once entrepreneurs like Elon Musk set their sights on mining H3 and realizing unfathomable riches, there will be a constant flow of personnel to the Moon and a permanent colony.
From that point on, Mars would be a walk in the park.

Tritium or Helium 3(He3)?

Not sure that will every pan out, fusion still requires more power in that we get out. But there are other resources on the Moon, possibly even rare earths for making batteries and electronice, that would put a wrinkle in China's monopoly on those

Just like crossing the ocean to find the new world, government starts the missions, then private industries make it grow. Space will be the same way.